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Aug. 13, 1929. o. LARsEN DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CAN *WASHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed om. 19, 1927 :IMU

JRC/677 @Za-f Larsen.

Aug. '1.3, 1929. o. LARS'EN I 1,724,096'

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR YCAN wAsHERS Filed Oct. 19, 1927 L1,.Sheets-Shia@t 2 f/LUQNTQ OZaf Larsen (yq @a Aug. 13, 1929.

O. LARSEN DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHERS 4 sheets-sheet Filed Oct. 19, 1927 ug. 13, l1929. 0, LARSEN 17,724,096

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHERS Filed oct. 19, 1927 4 sheen-.sheet 4 JRE/671%# Olaf Laren.

Patentedirg 13, i929@ UNiTED STATES,

l Linnea PerrierV OFFICE; j

OLAF LARSEN, 0F FORT ATKINSON, ViSCONSH,` ASSIGNOR T0 THE CREAMERY PACK- .AGE MFG. COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A'CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

`DELIVERY MECHANISIVI FOR CAN VASHERS.

Application filed Qctober 19, 1927. Serial No. 227,072. i

The invention relates to mechanismy for delivering cans from can washing machines after the cans have been submitted to cleans- .ing treatment, and is more particularly related to such' mechanism adapted tomilk can washing machines Vof the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,604,505, granted October 26th, 1926, to Valerius t Larsen.

In machines of such type the milk `cans are moved in inverted position progressively through a series ot washing and drying stations, the can covers being similarly treated while travelling a separate path through the machine. tions the cans are delivered in upright position to a suitable conveyor or receiving table, and the covers placed upon the cans.

The principal object of this invention is to provide auton'iatic mechanism for assem-i bling the covers with the cans, inverting the cans into upright position, and discharging them from the machine, with a minimum of wear and the vprevention vot' damage to the tion of the can delivery meclianisin as ap-` plied to a washing machine similar to that illustrated and described in the above mentioned Patent No. 1,604,505.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation oli' thc delivery mechanism anda fractional portion of the w shiiig machine with which it is associated.

Fig. 3 is a View in elevation of the opposite side of the mechanism and fractional portion of the machine.

` Iiig. 4 is a plan view and Fig. 5 is a fractional sectional elevation illustrating a poi'-r tion of the can forwarding mechanism.

Referring to the drawings the numeral l indicates the main body portion ot the can washing machine within which are housed devices t'or effecting the cleansing cfa series ot cans moving progressively through the At the end of those operas" machine.` .The washing means, forming no part of the present iiiventionis not further described herein. i Y

As fully set forth in the aforesaid patent tioned rail 3 suitahlymounted on the frameV structure oit themain body of the machine.

lAn intermittently progressive forward moven'ient ofthe Vcans'is'etlected'by means ot' a pair ot parallel reciprocating bars 4 and 5 having longitudinalY slidingV support on brackets, of which one isindicated at 0,' VThe bar nieves longitudinally on a fixed axisV while its coi'npleinentary bar 4 is moved both loi'igitndinally and laterally to effect contact with the cans during the forward movement of the bar, the cans being engaged between pairs of spaced toothed members 7 mounted. ron thebar 4. i i i, i

As fully set forth in the aforo-mentioned patent, power is applied tothe bar 4 to effect a longitudinally reciprocatory movement, the kbar 4 'being connected by `means of a plurality ol' pivot links, of which one is indicated at 8, with the other bar 5 which is confined in its movement to a longitudinal reciprocatory travel on a fixed axis. 'Ilhe consequence ol" the relation of the two bars is that in its forward movement the teeth 7 engage a can and move it forwardly through the length of advance of the bai' 4.- Upon reversal ot the movementol' the bar 4, the

i links 8 rwithdraw the teeth 7 from engagement with the can, leaving the latter in its advanced position while the bar 4 is with drawn to the` rearward limit of its longiV tudiiial movement through a' path repre*- sented in broken lines at .9.

As further fully set forth in theattire-men-` tioned patent, the covers for the several y operated by the bar through a dog 11 (Fig. 3) mounted thereon and engaging a chain belt 12 driving a shaft 13 oppositely driving a b elt 14 connected vto the shaft 15, the lat-ter carrying a suitable pulley or sprocket in driving engagement with the conveyor 10.

As further described and illustrated in the afore-mentioned patent, the machine is provided with a can receiving shelf or platform 16 upon which the cans are invented into upright position after leaving the supporting rails andadvancing bar ofthe machine conveyor. The platform 16 is preferably provided with lateral walls y17 'about two sides thereof, the walls carrying a resilient buifer member 18 to receive the shock of the falling can.. It is preferable also that the shelf 16 be mounted with a resilient under-support as indicated at :1,9 also adapted to break the j ar of the falling can.

Adjacent the open side of the platform 16 is mounted a'conv'entional roller conveyor 20 over which the cans may be advanced for disposal after their treatment in the washing machine. The cans are preferably started over the conveyor 2 0 by means of a pusher plate 21 which' operates during the return stroke of the can advancing bars to push the'can last dropped upon the platform 16 outward upon the ,conveyor` 20, whereupon its further movement is preferably accomplished by gravity. i

The pusher plate L2,1 may be actuated by means of a reciprocating bar 22 upon which the plate is mounted, the bar extending through the side wall about th eplatform and being operatively supported between two spaced pairs of rollers 23 and 24 mounted on suitable brackets secured Vto the frame structure of the machine. y The bar 22 is provided with a bracket 25 upon which is pivoted a link 26 having pivotal connection at its opposite end with a crank arm 27 rigidly mounted on a shaft having suitable bearings supported on the frame structure of the machine. y

The shaft 28 is provided with a rocking pitman 29 actuated through a. link connection 30 with a Second Pitman .3l .Carried 011 a shaft 32 having bearings on the upper structure of the machine, the pitman 31 being actuated by ra driving rod 33 receiving lpower from any suitable mechanical source, preferably'as fully 4described and illustrated in the aforo-mentioned patent.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application comprises means for receiving the cans from the ends of the guide rails and advancing bar provided in the machine, and for receiving also the advancing covers from the end of'their conveyor7 for placing the cover in the can mouth, and for inverting the ican and placing it in upright position upon the platform 16.

The mechanismy for accomplishing these results is mainly suppor'ed upon a bracket 34 mounted on the end structure of the washing machine and provided with bearings for a rock shaft 35 extending enbvardly from the machine. Associated with the rock shaft 35 is a can receiving and inverting chute 36 comprising a trough like structure of substantially semi-cylindrical form secured to a cradle 37 which is fixed upon the rock shaft The semi-cylindricai Side wall of the chute 36 is provided with an end wall 38 at its lower end when in normal position, the upper end being open. Adjacent the lower end wall and within thcchutel is a filler member 39 having a curved recess in its upper surface 'substantially concentric with the semi-cylindrical wall of the chute.

In normal position the chute 36 is adapted to receive, with the forward movement of the can and cover advancing conveyors of the washing machine, iirst,'a cover which rolls down the inclined endward portion of the cover conveyor indicated at 40 in Fig. 2 and drops into the recessed upper surface of the filler element 39 coming to rest against the end wall of thechute. Next, a can is dropped into the chute from the end of the guide rails of the machine and slides downward upon the cover, the latter being supported in position to enter the mouth of :the can as the latter slides toward the end wall of the chute.

rlhe discharge of the can from the machine conveyor into the chute is facilitated' by providing a series of rollers 41 mounted on a common lairis and supported at the eX- tremity of the guide rails upon which the mouth of the can rests in its progress through the machine. end of its travel on the guide rails the can is thrown into the chute by means `of a lever 42 pivoted on a suitable bracket 43 secured upon the extreme end of the advancing bar 4, and engaging the side of the body of the can in the last stage of its forward movement on the machine guide rails.

lThe lever 42 is retained in normal position by means of a spring 44 having its ends secured respectively'to the lever and the bar 4, the lever in normal position functioning similarly to the can advancing teeth 7 previously described. As the forwarding bar 4 approaches the forward limit of its nievement an oppositely extending lug carried by thev lever 42 is engaged by a rigidly supported stop member 46 preferably comprising a bolt adjustably Vn'lounted in a bracket 47 rigidly secured to the frame structure of the machine. Engagement by thc lug with the stop member 46 causes a sharp forward movement of the liever 42 in `contact with the body of the can, and effects the pushing of the can from the end of the guide rails with suflicient force to carry 1t into the receiving chute 36.

Upon reaching the I During the return movement of the bar 4f, the lever 4-2 is withdrawn laterally from contact with the next succeeding can until the forwarding bar reaches the return limitV of its movement, when the further advance of the bar effects the similar pushing-of the next can into the chute.

During thereversemovement of the advancing bar 4, the chute 36 is rotated about the axis of the shaft 35 into position as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, which causes the can, with its cover placed therein, to slide from the `open endiof the chute now lowermost and be deposited lin upright position upon the platform 16, from which the can is pushed out upon the gravity conveyor as previously described.

The rotation or rocking movement of the chute 36 is effected by means of a crank 48,

fixed on the shaft 35, thefree end ofthe crank being pivoted to 'a connecting link 49, the opposite end of the link being pivoted intermediately upon a lever having a stationary fulcrum upon a bearing pin 51 mounted in a bracket 52 secured to the end structure of the machine.

The opposite end of the lever 50 is pivotally connected by means of a link 53 with one end of the pitman 29. The actuating mechanism for the pitman 29, operatively' connected as previously described hereinis arranged in synchronism with the longitudinal movement of the advancing bar 4, as vfully set forth in the afore-mentioned patent, with the effect in the present arrangement that the inverting chute 86 is lowered into position to receive the cans and covers from the machine conveyors as the latter are operated forwardly, and to be rotated by the shaft 35 during the reverse move` ment of the advancing` bar to deposit the can and cover upon the platformi.`

The provision of this mechanism avoids the' common expedient of permitting the can to fall from the end of the guide rails, striking a fulcrum obstacle which effects the in-V version of the can in itsfall toward the platform 16. The interposition of the chute 36 accomplishes the comparatively gentle handling of the can whereby wear and denting of the sides of' thel can is avoided, and at the saine time the placing of the cover in the can mouth is automatically effected.

In the event that a `can may become accidentally out of position in the chute, or the preceding can failed to havecleared from the platform 16, damage tothe can and inverting chute mechanism is avoided by` the provision of a friction clutch connection between the rock shaft 35 and the cradle 37 which carries the chute. This clutch connection preferably comprises an annular support 54 rigidly associated with the cradle k37 and upon which is securely mounted an annular friction disk 55 having a central aperplate 57, between which latter and the lheads of the bolts are confined compression springs 59 which effect the pressure of the two plates 56 and 57 upon the friction disk. lf for any reason the chute 36 isr obstructed againsty rotative movement, the clutch members last `described will slip in their engagement and avoid damage to the mechanism.

rIt will here be apparent that I have provided an efficient automatic'mechanism of simple construction whereby the covers are automatically placed in their respective cans and the latter inverted without damage into upright form.

claim as my invention:

1. ncombination `with means for forvf'arding an inverted:containerrand a cover therefor in separated relation,raichute adjacent the end of said forwarding means normally disposed ininclinedposition to receive and retain said cover and said container and cause said container to slide into enposition upon the receiving platgaging relation with said/cover, and a sup-y Vfor engagement by` the other end of said lever in lthe forward movement of said reciprocatory member whereby said lever is actuated to` push said container outwardly from'the end of said conveyor.

3. The combination of a conveyor having' a reciprocatory member adapted toV forward an invertedcontainer by successive advancing c movements along said. conveyor, a leverinter mcdiately pivoted on said reciprocatory member havingk one end positioned toengage a container.approaching'thef end `of said conveyor, a stationary abutment positioned for engagement by the other yend of said lever in the forward movement of said ice reciprocatory 'member whereby said lever Y receiving said container operable to swing said container endwardly and discharge the same in upright position.

4. The combination of a conveyor operable to effect the progressively forward movenient of a container positioned thereupon and to discharge the same at the end thereof, and a second conveyor' operable to move a container cover uniformly with said container', said second conveyor being endwardly adapted to effect the discharge of said covcil therefrom in advance of the discharge of said container'.

5. The combination of a conveyor operable to effect the progressively forward movement of a container positioned thereupon and to discharge the saine at the end thereof, and a second conveyor operable to move a container' cover uniformly with said container, said second conveyor having an inclined end portion adapted to permit the sliding of said cover' thereover with accelerated speed effective to discharge said cover therefrom in advance of the discharge of said container.

6. The combination of a conveyor operable to effect the progressively forward movement f an inverted container positioned thereupon and to discharge the same at the end thereof, a second conveyor operable to move a container cover uniformly with said container, said second conveyor having an inclined end portion adapted to permit the sliding of said cover thereover with accelerated speed effective to discharge said cover therefrom in advance of the discharge of said container, and a chute adjacent the ends of said conveyors, said chute being normally disposed in inclined position and having its lower end portion adapted to receive and retain said cover, the upper portion of said chute being adapted to receive said container to slide thereupon into engaging relation with said cover.`

7. The combination of a conveyor operable to effect the progressively forward movement of an inverted container' positioned thereupon and to discharge .the same at the end thereof, a second conveyor operable to move a container cover uniformly with said container', said second conveyor having an inclined end portion adapted to permit the sliding of said cover thereover with accelerated speed effective to discharge said cover therefrom in advance of the discharge of said container, a chute adjacent the ends of said conveyor, said chute being` normally disposed in inclined position and having its lower end portion adapted to receive and retain said cover, the upper portion of said Y chute being adapted to receive said container' and permit said container to slide thereupon into engaging relation with said cover, and a supportJ for said chute operable to swing said .chiite into inversely inclined position to discharge said container and cover therefrom in upright position.

8. ln combination with a pair of conveyors respectively adapted to forward an inverted container and a cover therefor and to discharge the same from the ends thereof, an inclined chute positioned to receive said container and said cover from said conveyors in separated relation, and means at the lower end of said chute to position said cover in register with the mouth of said container, the inclination of said chute causing said container to slide thereupon into engaging relation with saidy cover.

9.` ln combination with a pair of conveyors respectively adapted to forward an inverted container and a cover therefor and to discharge the same from the ends thereof, an inclined chute positioned to receive said container and said cover from said conveyors in separated relation, means at the lower end of said chute to position said cover in register with the mouth of said container, the inclination of said chute causing said container to slide thereupon into engaging relation with said cover, and means for reversing the inclination of said chute to discharge said container therefrom in upright position.

l0. The combination of an inclined chute adapted to receive a container and a cover therefor in separated relation, said chute ha fing a lower end abutment for the retention of said cover', and a.cover positioning member adjacent said abutment effective to support said cover in register with the mouth of said container', the inclination of said chute causing said container to slide into engagement with said cover.

ll. The combination of a chute adapted to receive a container in inverted position,` a rotatable support for said chute operable to swingl said chute into reverse position for the discharge kof said container therefrom in upright position, a driven rock shaft, and a clutch connection between said rock shaft and said support effective to permit the stoppage of said chute during the movement of said rock shaft.

l2. The combination of a conve or havinf.y`

.LL-3. The coinlination oi a @my f han,

lib

ing means for forwarding,` a container there upon and for discharging Said` container from the end thereof, a chute adjacent said conveyor normally disposed in inclined posi'- tion to receive and retain Said container, said chute being swingable into reversely inclined position to discharge said container therefrom in upright position, and a platform positioned to receive said container when discharged from said chute.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

OLAF LARSEN. 

